Date Me! (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
“……Huh?”
Lee I Na asked, her face startled.
“I just have a feeling that guy’s going to wait until morning, so it’d probably be better if I leave with you.”
“Huh? Oh….”
Joo Won’s suggestion made sense, but Lee I Na’s face still clearly showed her bewilderment.
After all, Joo Won staying over at her place had never been part of her plans.
“Uh… but I, that is…”
Seeing Lee I Na flustered, Joo Won, who fully understood how she felt, spoke gently.
“I get it. It’s sudden, so of course you’re thrown off—but the situation right now is a bit unusual. If I leave, I’m worried that guy might try to hurt you.”
“Yeah. I know… I appreciate you worrying about me.”
“It wasn’t in the plan, but you don’t need to take it too seriously. You used to come over to my house and sleep over all the time when we were kids. Just think of it like that—this time, it’s my turn to come over and stay the night. Just like old times.”
Hearing Joo Won’s gentle words, Lee I Na fiddled with her cheeks and replied.
“No, it’s not that I’m taking it seriously… it’s just that it caught me off guard. Besides, we’re friends—it’s fine for you to come over and sleep here. And like you said, the situation is unusual right now…”
“Exactly. That’s the way to think about it.”
‘And also, if I call a cab again, I’ll have to pay more money, so I’d feel bad anyway.’
Lee I Na silently muttered to herself in her mind and lowered her hands from her cheeks.
“I’ll sleep on the couch, so don’t worry about it too much. If I wake up in the morning and that guy’s gone, I’ll just head out.”
Only then did Lee I Na suddenly flinch and wave her hands.
“Huh? No way. Why would you sleep on the couch when there’s a room? There’s a small guest room—you can sleep there. And you should have at least a light breakfast before leaving. I can’t just kick out someone who stayed over to help me.”
Joo Won nodded with a smile.
“Alright. Then can you hand me a toothbrush? I should freshen up a bit.”
“Oh. There’s one in the bathroom cabinet—just take it and use it. Wait a sec.”
Lee I Na went into the small room and opened the top drawer.
She took out a black men’s long-sleeve t-shirt and sweatpants, then came back to the living room.
“These are clothes Young Min used to wear, but they’re clean, so you can use them.”
“Young Min?”
Joo Won narrowed his eyes and asked.
“Yeah. He’s my cousin—he sometimes comes over and stays the night. They should fit you roughly.”
Joo Won silently looked down at the clothes for a moment, then accepted them.
“Alright. Thanks. I’ll go wash up first.”
“Okay.”
After Joo Won entered the bathroom, Lee I Na went back out to the balcony and looked down below.
Jung Hoon’s car was still parked in the same spot.
Completely baffled by his intentions, Lee I Na glared at the car for a while, then sighed and turned around.
When she turned and looked toward the bathroom, a strange feeling suddenly washed over her.
Though he was a friend, it still felt oddly surreal that she’d brought a man into her home—and that he was now showering in her bathroom.
Shaking her head as if to brush off the thought, Lee I Na went into her room.
After quickly changing clothes, she went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
As she rummaged through ingredients, wondering what to make for breakfast, she soon heard the bathroom door open.
She turned around to see Joo Won coming out, drying his hair with a towel.
Joo Won, still toweling his hair, looked toward Lee I Na standing in the kitchen.
Lee I Na, in turn, silently stared back at him.
A droplet of water rolled from Joo Won’s damp front hair down his forehead.
It then slid along the sharp bridge of his nose and slipped right into his full lips.
“……”
Her eyes, drawn involuntarily downward, landed on Joo Won wearing Young Min’s clothes.
Since Joo Won was significantly taller and broader than Young Min, the black shirt clung tightly to his body.
His well-formed pectorals and solid arm muscles were clearly visible.
The sweatpants were tight on him as well, leaving his firm, muscular thighs fully exposed.
He was living proof that Lee I Na’s assumption about the clothes fitting was a huge miscalculation.
Staring at him, Lee I Na unconsciously gulped.
But in the silence, that audible gulp sounded so loud that her face instantly flushed red.
Embarrassed, she quickly turned her head away and shut the refrigerator door.
“S-Should we have toast for breakfast tomorrow?”
Though she seemed to be asking herself, she kept her eyes fixed on the fridge. Joo Won looked at her, puzzled, then simply replied, “Yeah.”
“T-Then I’ll go wash up and sleep too. Just go into the small room—I’ve already laid out the bedding, so you can sleep right away.”
“Got it.”
“T-Then sleep well.”
Lee I Na spoke quickly and hurried past Joo Won into the bathroom.
Joo Won stared at the bathroom door for a moment, then headed into the room Lee I Na had pointed out.
On the thick mat lay a cozy-looking comforter with a cute pattern.
Lying down and gazing up at the ceiling, he soon heard the bathroom door open again.
Then the living room light went out, followed immediately by the sound of a door closing.
In the quiet darkness, Joo Won tried closing his eyes and falling asleep, but sleep wouldn’t come.
He tossed and turned, trying to relax, but it clearly wasn’t going to be easy.
So he just lay there with his eyes shut, breathing in the faint scent of fabric softener from the comforter.
Lee I Na couldn’t sleep either.
It felt too strange lying in the same house as Joo Won, and the image of his body kept replaying in her mind.
“Ugh, why am I like this? Am I some kind of pervert?”
Scolding herself, Lee I Na closed her eyes and started counting sheep.
But by the time she reached over two hundred, she wasn’t sleepy at all—her mind had only grown clearer.
“Argh. I need to sleep soon… I’ve got so much to do tomorrow…”
She pulled the covers over her head and shut her eyes, but sleep still seemed out of reach.
That night, neither of them could fall asleep easily until 2 a.m.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
At 6:30 a.m., the alarm vibrated.
Lee I Na reached out groggily from bed and turned off the alarm.
Half-asleep, she sat up, yawned, and stretched.
Quietly opening her door, she saw Joo Won in the kitchen pouring water.
“Huh? When did you wake up?”
Lee I Na asked, eyes wide with surprise.
“Just now. Want some water?”
When Lee I Na nodded, Joo Won handed her a glass.
“That guy’s car isn’t down there anymore.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“We’ll have to wait and see if it’s really a relief or not. Anyway, I should get going.”
“Huh? You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah. I need to go home and change clothes.”
“Then I’ll make you some toast. Just eat that and go.”
“No, thanks. I don’t usually eat breakfast. Plus, I’ve got some documents I need to bring to the office, so I’d better head out.”
“Oh. Is that so? But I still feel bad—you stayed over because of me.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll go ahead first, so take your time getting ready for work. And if anything happens on your way to the office, call me right away. Got it?”
“Uh… yeah, okay.”
Lee I Na nodded in reply.
Joo Won, putting on his jacket, looked over at her as he slipped on his shoes by the front door.
“He won’t come looking for you at the office or anything like that, will he?”
“Huh? No, I don’t think he’d go that far.”
“Still, better safe than sorry—keep an eye out on your way in.”
“Got it.”
“Alright. I’m heading out, then. See you tonight.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Joo Won.”
Joo Won gave a quick wave and closed the front door behind him.
Lee I Na watched the closed door for a moment, let out a long sigh, and headed to the bathroom.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Fortunately, Jung Hoon wasn’t waiting in front of the office as Joo Won had worried.
Lee I Na breathed a sigh of relief and entered the office, carrying on with her usual work.
She finished the documents that needed processing by morning, got them approved, and then prepared materials for tomorrow’s retirement pension seminar.
“Time for lunch, everyone?”
Kim Department Head stood up, signaling that lunchtime had arrived, and the HR team members began getting up one by one.
Lee I Na shut down her computer and got into the elevator with Section Chief Park, Eun Jung, and Se Na.
When they stepped out on the first floor and were heading toward the main gate while chatting, Lee I Na suddenly froze in place.
“What’s wrong, Assistant Manager Seo?”
Eun Jung asked, looking puzzled.
Lee I Na’s expression had hardened as she stared ahead in shock.
Park Jung Hoon was walking straight toward them from a distance.
Lee I Na’s eyes widened as she watched him approach, and he soon stopped right in front of her.
He was still wearing the same clothes as last night, his eyes bloodshot red, and the strong stench of alcohol clung to him.
Section Chief Park wrinkled her brow and covered her nose at the sudden appearance of the drunk man, while the female colleagues beside her took a step back in alarm.
Lee I Na’s heart pounded and her vision blurred, but she forced herself to stay calm and took a deep breath.
Then, biting her lip, she gave a slight bow toward Section Chief Park and said,
“Section Chief Park… I’m sorry, but could you all go ahead without me…?”
“Hey!”
But before Lee I Na could finish, Jung Hoon shouted loudly.
A few people who had been pouring out for lunch turned around at the sound.
Lee I Na squeezed her eyes shut.
Her heart began pounding even faster.
When she opened her eyes again, Jung Hoon was smirking at her.
“Hey! How can you just waltz off to eat lunch after ruining someone’s life? Can you even swallow food? Huh?”
The female colleagues gasped in shock, and Section Chief Park narrowed her eyes as she glared at Jung Hoon.
Lee I Na swallowed hard, then bowed her head toward Section Chief Park and said,
“Section Chief… I’m really sorry. Could you all go ahead? I’m in the middle of this situation right now.”
But Section Chief Park stepped forward and looked up at Jung Hoon, asking firmly,
“Hey, who even are you to act like this?”
Hearing that, Jung Hoon scowled and glared back at her.
“And who are you supposed to be?”
Seeing Jung Hoon respond drunkenly, Lee I Na was about to stop him, but Section Chief Park crossed her arms and replied,
“Me? I’m Lee I Na’s direct supervisor. Who are you?”
“Ohhh. Direct supervisor? So everyone here works in the same department, huh? Huh?”
“Yeah, we do. What of it?”
Matching Jung Hoon’s informal tone, Section Chief Park shot him a sharp look.
“But you don’t even know me? I’m her boyfriend!”
Jung Hoon swayed unsteadily as he pointed at Lee I Na, and the three women exchanged shocked glances.
At those words, Lee I Na squeezed her eyes shut again.
“Well, how could you know? This bitch always made me pick her up from the back entrance of the office! She was hiding her double life, of course! You filthy slut!”
Jung Hoon’s outburst left the female colleagues aghast, and Section Chief Park’s eyes widened in fury as she stared at him.
“You people! Lee I Na, you filthy bitch! Do you even know how dirty she is? She’s been juggling two guys this whole time, playing me like a fool! You disgusting whore!”
As Jung Hoon raised his voice and pointed an accusatory finger at Lee I Na, a small crowd began gathering to watch.
Her heart pounded wildly, and she felt like she might collapse at any second—but she pulled herself together and grabbed Jung Hoon’s arm sharply.
Jung Hoon whirled around and yelled at her,
“What? Let go! You filthy bitch—how dare you touch me with those hands that were all over that bastard last night…!”
But before Jung Hoon could finish his frantic outburst, Section Chief Park swiftly lifted her foot and kicked him hard in the shin.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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